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September 24, 2007
Missoula, MT Struggles with Water Availablity for Growth
The availability of water is affecting the growth in the outlying areas around Missoula.
Ground water has proven to be scarce in many areas, even when dilling for what seems like miles. The problem is that Mountain Water Company, the local water supplier, is private, and according to the company's general manager, Arvid Hiller, "The whole “field of dreams" theory is not good business practice. It's too risky to assume that if the water company builds it, homeowners will come."
Hiller, blames the state Public Service Commission for the company"s limited ability to plan for future needs. The PSC won't allow the current water-using customer to pay for the company to stretch pipes to land in the urban fringe.
The developers have been paying Mountain Water to install water pipes, the cost of which is recovered from homeowners, but that does not leave room for any speculation.
Commissioner Doug Mood, who represents residents from Ravalli County up to Lincoln County, said the PSC wouldn't be doing its job if it allowed companies to expand their businesses on the backs of existing customers, as reported by the Missoulian.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at September 24, 2007 03:33 PM
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